February 23, 2007
Volume #29, Issue #6
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADJUSTMENT BILL RESTORES STATE EMPLOYEE PLANT OPERATOR
JOBS - On February 28, the Joint Finance Committee is scheduled
to take up budget adjustment
legislation (AB-72), which makes several changes to the state's current
fiscal year budget plan. Among
the recommendations for the budget adjustment bill is renewal of all 271 FTE state
employee power plant
operator jobs.
Every year, the Governor presents a bill to tweak the given year's budget obligations, and
typically these
requets are honored. Thanks to the dozens of power plant operators and supporters who came
to the
Capitol or otherwise contacted their legislators, we expect to have strong support for
restoring the jobs.
After the Joint Finance Committee vote, AB-72 will be sent to the
Assembly and Senate and then move on
to the Governor to be signed into law.
LAWMAKERS SEEK TO END THEIR OWN SICK LEAVE BENEFITS - The State
Assembly voted 60-38
this week to give preliminary approval of a bill to take away sick leave benefits for
legislators. The bill
(AB-31) will come up for a final vote in the Assembly next week. AB-31
would eliminate sick leave
conversion benefits for legislators, justices and judges, and other state elected
officials. The bill as passed
by the Assembly was amended to apply only to legislators.
AFSCME opposed the legislation because it would create a two-tiered benefit system for
those who work
in the public sector. It would set a dangerous precedent and would open the door to
eliminating other
hard-won benefits. Senate leaders have said they will not take up AB-31.
Instead, they will begin tracking
and enforcing sick leave in a way that requires Senators to play by the rules like
everybody else. AFSCME
urges members tocontact Senators to support enforcing the rules, not changing them.
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS SET: AFSCME MEMBERS TAKE NOTE! -
Tuesday, March 20, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in Milwaukee (location to be determined)
Wednesday, March 21, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in DeForest (outside of Madison) (location to
be determined)
NOTE:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, IS AFSCME'S ANNUAL LOBBY DAY
LEGISLATIVE WEBSITES. . .For those "online", here are some good info spots:
Wisconsin State Legislature: www.legis.state.wi.us/
"Who Are My Legislators": www.legis.state.wi.us./waml/
State of Wisconsin: www.wisconsin.gov/state/home
Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau: www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/
Wisconsin Legislative Council: www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/
Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau: www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/
Wisconsin Ethics Board: http://ethics.state.wi.us